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1797 - Harrison County., No jail can hold Joe
On October 25, the Jailer of Harrison County, Samuel Jameson, placed an ad for the return of 38 yr. old Joe, who had escaped his custody. The jailor was still in possession of a horse that Joe had been riding when caught, but Joe got away. The enslaver was encouraged to come get the horse.
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1813 - Harrison Co., Barnett heads to Canada
Barnett took his leave from Harrison County enslaver Francis Flournoy on Mar 30, 1830. He was described as about 35 yrs. old, 5'8" tall and well equipped with clothing and shoes. It was suspected that he was given free papers or a pass and was headed for Canada. A reward up to $30 was offered for his return.
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1814 - Harrison Co., Well-dressed Daphne
On June 2nd, 1814, Daphne, 18-20 yrs. old, disappeared from Harrison County. Enslaver Edward Coleman offered a large reward the following day of $100. Daphne's left with several nice dresses, yellow morocco shoes and a bonnet trimmed with pink ribbon. Edward feared another white man had "enticed her to keep and foster for his own."
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1836 - Franklin Co., Long-running ad for Isaac's return
In mid-July, 1835, 30-yr-old Isaac escaped from the Dr. Samuel B. Crockett's farm in Franklin County. An ad offering a reward up to $100 for his return was placed in November, 1836 ,by John McKee, over a year after his escape. It's unclear if McKee was acting as agent for Crockett or was himself the claimant of Isaac.
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1822 - Franklin Co., Bill's pass to freedom
Enslaver James Gough, who lived 11 miles from Frankfort, offered a $50 reward for the return of 35-yr-old Bill in 1822. Bill, also known as "Buck" escaped on July 15th and it was suspected that he had been furnished with a pass to get him safely out of the state.
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1822 - Franklin Co., Alford's second escape
On Feb 1st, 1822, a $30 reward was offered for the return of Alford. Alford was previously held by Joseph Parker (since deceased) from whom he had escaped about six month prior. The reward was offered by a representative of Samuel Arbuckle, of Franklin County. Presumably, Alford had been sold and escaped again.
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1821- Franklin Co., Alford the Elegant Hatter
On August 28th, 1821, 21-yr-old Alford escaped from enslaver Joseph Parker, who lived in southern Franklin County. In a ad for his return, Parker described Alford's skill as an "elegant hatter" who may be headed for Ohio or Vincennes, Indiana. A $10 reward was offered for his return.
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1822 - Franklin Co., Escape of Jude
On October 6th, 1822, 22-yr-old Jude took three dresses and left enslavement behind in Franklin County. Enslaver henry Crutcher offered a reward of $10 plus reasonable expenses for her return.
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1801 - Franklin Co., A broken leg can't stop George
On Jan 2, 1801, George, a freedom seeker of unknown age, escaped enslavement in Franklin County near the Forks of Elkhorn, where he was held by enslaver William Hubbell. Hubbell offered up to $10 for his return and described him as "about 6 feet or thereabouts high" with a previously broken leg that caused a "large swell" on his shin.
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1804 - Franklin Co., Evasive Lewis
Lewis, who was about 17 or 18 at the time of his escape, left enslavement behind in Frankfort in May, 1804. Nearly two years later, enslaver Isham Talbot was still advertising for his return. Lewis was described as "large, strong and active; lively and sensible." Talbot was offering a generous and liberal reward for his return.
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1818 - Franklin Co., Holliday takes a holiday
In 1818, enslaver J. Dudley placed a reward ad for the return of Holliday. He was described as about 30 years old, 5' 10" and fond of fine clothing. Dudley suspected that Holliday was spirited away by white men.
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1821 - Franklin Co., Escape of Ned
In 1821, William Owen placed a reward ad for the return of Ned, who was about 30-years-old. Ned had reportedly broken into the home of a widow in Frankfort the night before his escape.
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1826 - Franklin Co., Gabriel the fiddler
Enslaver William Owen of Franklin County offered a reward of up to $50 for the return of Gabriel, a 28-year-old man who escaped in February, 1826. Gabriel, who was previously held by John Major (also of Franklin Co.) was a fiddler who liked to dance and was "in the habit of running away."
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1821 - Franklin Co., The talented Moody
Mood or Moody, who was known to have escaped in the past, again took his leave from Lewis Fenwick and Moses Clinton of Frankfort. It was suspected that he would stop in Boone County on his way north, as he was recently purchased from Elijah Kirtley. A reward of $100 was offered for his capture and return.
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1820 - Franklin Co., Popular Caesar
Caesar who was about 25-30 years old, escaped enslaver Isaac Yarnall of the Forks of Elkhorn in 1820. Yarnall ran a paper mill and had purchased Caesar as a laborer from John W. Hunt's sale of enslaved factory workers in Lexington several years prior. Yarnall believed that Caesar had a "great many friends and acquaintances" in Lexington who would help hide him.
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1811 - Franklin Co., Gambling Joe
In April, 1811, enslaver Edmond Searcy placed an ad for the return of 24-year-old Joe. Joe was covered in scars from being punished and had lost some of his hearing in a fight. It was assumed he would have procured a free pass under an alias. Joe was skilled in factory work, handled an axe well and made baskets. He liked to "dress and appear well" and frequently accumulated gambling debts which went unpaid. Searcy offered a $50 reward.
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1827 - Fleming Co., Tom escapes after being sold south
Tom was sold from his Flemingsburg home by an enslaver named Young to another enslaver named Thomas who sold him to slave-trader Jacob Allentharp. James Hill. Of Greenfield, MS purchased Tom at auction at the Natchez landing and used him as a carpenter and gin-wright. Hill offered a $150 reward for the return of the shilled workman, who was described as about 25 yrs. old, 5'11" tall with a "mulatto" complexion.
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1815 - Fleming Co., George self-emancipates
On September 23rd, twenty-year-old George escaped enslavement in Flemingsburg, Ky. Enslaver Lewis Crain offered a five dollar reward for his return.
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1828 - Fleming Co., Big Moses Dixson
On October 6th, 1828, a freedom seeker named Moses Dixson escaped from enslaver James Hood in Fleming County. He was described as about 35 years old, large and strong. A reward of $100 was offered for his return.
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1813 - Fleming Co., Eliza and Mr. Botts
On October 4, 1813, enslaver James Edmondson discovered that 28-yr-old Eliza, whom he had brought with him from Staunton, VA, had escaped him. She took a grey horse, equipped with a good bridle and side-saddle. She left in the company of an African American man named "Mr. Botts," also of Fleming County, who played the violin. It's not clear if he was free or enslaved.
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1820 - Fleming Co., Escape of Left-handed Harry
Harry escaped enslaver Joshua Stockton of Flemingsburg, Ky, on May 20, 1820. An ad was placed that described Harry as being about 28 yrs. old and "left-handed." A $50 reward was offered for his return.
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1863 - Fleming Co., Freedom Seeker's long life memorialized
Alvin Smith escaped enslavement in 1863, when he fled Fleming County, Ky and joined the 27th infantry, USCT and settled in Ohio. He died in 1948, a few days shy of his 105th birthday. In 1998, a bronze marker was placed upon his grave on the 50th anniversary of his death by a middle school teacher who was a Civil War buff .
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1814 - Nackey caught in Paris
In July, 1814, the jailer of Bourbon County placed an advertisement regarding the capture of a freedom seeker named Nackey. She was described as about 30 years old and appeared to be "deranged." The enslaver named by Nackey was Peter Sparks, but she did not know the county where she had been held. If no claimant were to come forward, Nackey would be auctioned.
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1814 - Bourbon Co., Nance escapes with the clothes on her back
On Nov 24, 1814, 17-year-old Nance escaped enslavement near Paris, Ky. Enslaver William Duncan offered a reward for her capture and return. Within the ad, it is revealed that when she escaped, Nance had only a linen shirt and coat, no shoes or warm clothing. It was suspected she was being helped by other African Americans in the area.
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1814 - Bourbon Co., Jude and Jerry
In 1814, a 22 year old woman named Jude escaped from Quenton Moore, to whom she was hired out by enslaver Ely Thomas. Jude's mother was held by Moore. After having been absent for several weeks, Jude was seen near Thomas' property in Bourbon County. The next day, 20-year-old Jerry also escaped. A reward was offered for their return together or seperately.